The First Woman in my Life

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The First Woman in my Life

Do you agree with the saying that a woman's work is never done? Levi Tafari does, and he wrote this poem to tell the world about his very special mum.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first and then read the poem. Don't worry if you don't understand every single word. Then do the exercises to check your understanding.

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Preparation

Before you read the poem do this exercise. It will help you to understand some of the more difficult words in the poem.

The First Woman in my Life

by Levi Tafari

A woman's work is never done
If you don't believe me ask my mum
She worked her fingers to the bone
To provide us with a decent home
If she lived in Ancient Rome
She could of built that city on her own
She cooks, she cleans
She does everything
She irons decorates and does the shopping
She chastised us when we were rude
But never sent us to bed with out food
Everyday she would change our clothes
If we had colds she would wipe our nose
Or if we went to mum with a problem
Mum would always help us solve them
We didn't want for anything
We got the greatest gift mum's loving
You can have ten aunties and scores of lovers
But remember you only have one mother
I remember when someone pointed a finger
Mum said I was Black, beautiful and I had culture

She always made sure we went to school
Because in this life you can't be a fool
You can see people will ride you like a mule
It was mum who taught me to be cool
So mother there's something I want you to know
I love you mum, I love you so
You taught me to survive in the ghetto
You can have my last ROLO

If it was not for you then I would not exist
So here it comes for you a kiss
Yes you was the first woman in my life
But one day I will take a wife
Then hopefully she'll become a mum
A woman's work is never done.

Hi Giang!
Wow! You like literature section too??? it's good! I also like reading literature any where I can found! My dad is fond of reading literature and hence I have adopted this habit from him, also one of my English teacher inspired me a lot ad I got more motivated.....I started it at a very young age and with classical literature!!!!! It was fun :)) Well, Learning English through poems huh?? Quite interesting! I also like reading poems but I think some of them carry deep meanings and sometimes I can't understand...............I try to find new meanings of the phrases and words used in them........My teacher once told us that every person has it's own thinking! Different person can think differently about the same thing! for example ''Black'' , for some people it's symbol of sadness, for some it may represent bad deeds or it might be a symbol of guard for many! I think same is the case with poems..........it may happen that the writer wrote it with some strange thought in his mind but we took out some other meaning! Who knows....what author has in his mind while writing??? Well, it has always been a difficult task for me.............But it's impressive that you love reading them! I like your approach! Good luck with your poems :))))
Stay blessed~!
Best wishes, Hadia

Hi Hadia & Giang!
Interesting comment!
I agree with your teacher but I'd rather change just one word: think ⇒feel !!
Cuz I usually read poems to feel, not to think, in a precise sense, so it goes like this: My teacher once told us that every person has it's own feeling! Different person can feel differently about the same thing! …..it may happen that the reader enjoys poems in their own emotional mindset which is not always shared with others. For me, poems are like music. Music is made of the notes; the poem is made of letters; both move our each heart!
Take care,
Elsa

Hi To both of you!
Thanks for the reply Giang! And of course, Thanks to you too Elsa for reading my comment and correcting it! :) I feel good about it (Is it right noW??? Think= feel ) Hm.....May be! Well, leave it..........................So, it's music huh! Woow! What a feel :) That's the reason dear Elsa that I have always admire your thoughts! Oooopss! Plus feeling :)) hahaha Don't mind if i'm feeling about it too much...But seriously you're a very good observer! Well Nice to meet you too Giang! I liked reading your conversation with Elsa! You both have made quite good bond of friendship with each other! I liked it..............( aww, I'm jealous! :))) hahha! Just kidding) Well, keep loving, feeling, admiring and listening poems because they carry deep thoughts and create a sensation of love+melody.....................Hm...Take care you both!
best wishes, Hadia

Hi hadia & Ginag!
Good…, Hadia! I'm happy that you are feeling too much about my comment! :))))) Well, am I a very good observer? Thank you, but actually not really. i don't know the half of it or real part… Maybe I owe your creativity, Hadia!
By the way, thank heavens! Giang is a girl!
I mean if Giang was a boy, I thought (not felt!) him a mummy's boy!! (hahaha!) Hi, Giang, how's going?? You're such a lovely girl!♬ :)))

HI Hadia. Nice to meet you. I am a Elsa007's friend. You are right, some E poems carry deep meanings and we can't understand them but I think we could feel the their beauties. ( Actually, I have loved literature section and E poems since I read the poem above. I see that Vietnamese literature and English literature are quite different ( your country's literature may be unlike mine) but all express love, happiness and all are so meaningful.